BEIJING, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The year-on-year growth of China's exports to Russia slowed notably in August from July following stellar performance earlier this year, Chinese customs data showed on Thursday.
Chinese shipments to Russia rose just 16% to $9.3 billion last month from a year earlier, in sharp contrast with expansion of 52% in July and growth of 91% in June, Reuters calculations based on customs data showed.
The General Administration of Customs did not release a breakdown of exports by both country and product.
Imports from Russia rose 3% to $11.5 billion last month after shrinking 8% in July.
This month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping soon.
Russia also hopes to increase exports of marine products to China after the latter banned seafood imports from Japan, following its release of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.
The two countries have hailed much closer ties after the Ukraine-Russia war, with the value of June's two-way trade standing at $20.83 billion, its highest since the conflict began last year.
Two-way trade rose to $20.81 billion in August from $19.49 billion in July. (Reporting by Ellen Zhang and Ryan Woo; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)